Saturday, April 29, 2017 was a most gratifying experience for me. Participating in the People's Climate March in Seattle gave me the sure and certain knowledge that there are millions of people in our country that are aware of the problems with climate and the environment, and are willing to rise up and take action.

The march was entirely peaceful. I heard marchers thanking police officers for their service in support of the protest and beyond. Spirits were high, although there was an element of anger and outrage at the cause and nature of the problems. The spirit of unity as citizens, human beings, and inhabitants of this marvelous planet was the prevailing emotion that carried the day.

From the mouths of babes...

It was refreshing to be outdoors in beautiful, historic downtown Seattle, in the midst of a throng of voices calling for justice and right action, instead of alone watching a TV screen relating the latest atrocities committed to make billionaires and corporations more money. If there was a number that would satisfy their appetites, I'd be in support of paying it to save thousands of species from extinction, including our own. However, as Henry Ford was purported to have answered when asked how much money he wanted, their answer is always "A little more".

After the march, as I made my way through the Seattle Ferry Terminal, I heard waiting passengers thanking protesters carrying signs for attending the march and expressing their views on their behalf and speaking truth to power. There may yet be hope...

This young man asked adults to stop global warming because if sea levels rise, short people will be the first to drown! Check out https://www.plant-for-the-planet.org/ to learn how kids are uniting in their own fight against climate change by planting trees.

Maplebrook Farm

Although I'm meeting new people and discovering neat things about my new home here in Shelton, WA, I miss my dogs, especially having an English Shepherd to walk with twice a day. I heard of a possible re-home of a grown female English Shepherd in Gig Harbor, a little over half an hour away from my new place, but when I contacted the owner I was informed the dog had been adopted several months prior. Then an upcoming litter was mentioned. Thus an e-mail dialogue between myself and Sherie McMullen began and I learned she was doing some neat stuff on the 5 acre mini farm she shares with her husband Tim.

The house at Maplebrook Farm

They have 4 English Shepherds plus about 20 hens, 2 roosters, 3 Katahdin cross hair sheep, a few lionhead rabbits and lots of raised beds, raspberry canes and fruit trees. A new greenhouse graces the property and fresh mulch and compost are being put in place for the upcoming market gardening season.

Sherie was on the forefront of the homeschooling movement and spent many years education her now grown children. Now that they are empty-nesters, the Sherie and Tim decided they wanted to keep the place they'd spent so many happy years in and figure out a use for which to put the extra space. Since lots of home-school moms look for enriching experiences for their children, the concept of a "farm stay" with animal and other education classes was born. There is no shortage of books and educational material amassed from decades of Sherie's home schooling 4 kids and outdoor hands-on education is always an option.

This rooster has a beard - chicks dig it!

"Is that really all the feed I get?"

If you have an interest in booking a stay at this novel home schooling B&B, for lack of a better description, or you want to learn more about the English Shepherd dog and upcoming litters, you can contact Sherie through her website: https://maplebrookfarm.wordpress.com/

Random Quotes

When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers. Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882American Poet, Essayist

May 1, 2017 I attended a one hour orientation meeting at the Mason County Economic Development Council offices featuring a FREE program for Mason County residents who are interested in starting their...